Former Cricket Captain Lamichhane Sentenced To Eight Years For Rape
Muhammad Rameez Published January 10, 2024 | 06:18 PM
A court in Nepal on Wednesday sentenced former star cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in prison for rape. Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal and the leg spinner's onfield success had boosted the sport's profile in the Himalayan republic
KATHMANDU, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2024) A court in Nepal on Wednesday sentenced former star cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane to eight years in prison for rape. Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal and the leg spinner's onfield success had boosted the sport's profile in the Himalayan republic.
In 2022, he was accused of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel but was freed on bail and returned to the squad to compete in international tournaments.
He was convicted of rape in December after a repeatedly delayed trial that had left him free to continue his sporting career, with his sentence handed down on Wednesday.
"The court has sentenced him to eight years," Kathmandu district court official Ramu Sharma told AFP.
He was also ordered to pay a court fine of 300,000 Nepalese rupees ($2,255) and a further 200,000 rupees ($1,500) to the victim "considering the mental impact" his attack had on her.
Lamichhane, who is not in custody, was not in court for the sentencing.
His lawyer, Saroj Ghimire, told AFP he "will appeal the decision in a higher court".
The victim had said, she was a minor when she was raped, but the court in a previous ruling said that she was 18.
Lamichhane consistently denied the charge against him and enjoyed strong public support despite the accusation.
When authorities issued an arrest warrant, Lamichhane initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League. He was dismissed as national captain and arrested, but Nepal lifted his playing ban after he was freed on bail. This allowed him to remain on the national team, including for the World Cup qualifiers and the 2023 Asia Cup. Hundreds of cheering cricket fans welcomed him when he first returned to the field in February last year. But his continued playing career has also sparked anger and caused numerous Nepalis to disavow the team.
Scotland's cricketers refused to shake hands with him after their matches during an international tournament in Dubai. Cricket does not enjoy the same adulation in mountainous Nepal as it does elsewhere in South Asia.
But it has been growing in popularity, with Nepal given one-day international status by the world governing body in 2018. Lamichhane was a major part of this rise as the most sought-after Nepali cricketer in lucrative leagues around the world. The leg spinner's big break came when he was snapped up for the lucrative Indian Premier League, the world's richest cricket tournament, in 2018.
pa/pjm/sco
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Agri experts stress quality seed at farm level to overcome food insecurity
07 day anti-polio drive launches in Khairpur
Dr Mumtaz calls for strengthening NDMA, PDMA to tackle climate changes issues
Anti-polio campaign kicks off in 30 district of Balochistan
China strongly condemns perpetrators of atrocity in Gaza
Top Pak athletes to feature in 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship
Week-long anti-polio campaign inaugurated in RWP
Police launch 24/7 drive-through facility: SSP
SBP decides to keep policy rate unchanged at 22 per cent
3rd polio drive of 2024 starts
Scotland's first minister Yousaf quits after a year
ADF presents aquaculture investment opportunities at Barcelona Seafood Expo
More Stories From Sports
-
Top Pak athletes to feature in 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship
41 minutes ago -
Naz Club Khalabat clinches trophy in District Volleyball Championship 2024
2 hours ago -
Table Tennis League kicks off
3 hours ago -
Pakistan's Ashab wins Rochester Proam Squash
3 hours ago -
Chief Minister KP to open Inter-Madrasa, Special Games on Tuesday
4 hours ago -
Iranian Consulate Peshawar to sponsor Tradition Kabaddi, Zurkhaneh, Kosti-Pehlwani: Arbab Naseer
5 hours ago
-
Gillespie, Kirsten feature in 48th edition of PCB Podcast
6 hours ago -
New Zealand skipper Williamson set for sixth T20 World Cup
9 hours ago -
West Indies women beat Pakistan by seven wickets
45 minutes ago -
President's Cup matches washed out
1 day ago -
Rana Mashhood congratulates hockey players
1 day ago -
Inter Club Athletics Championship on Wednesday
1 day ago